The first staff exchange program between Hong Kong and Chinese mainland's environmental protection authority will be held in Beijing from Oct. 19 to Nov. 12., according to Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department Sunday.

The program aims to share experiences in Hong Kong's environmental impact assessment system and expertise in managing environmental impacts of major development projects, and vice versa.

This staff exchange program is a key co-operation item under a regular exchange mechanism set up between the State Environment Protection Administration and Hong Kong's Environment, Transport and Works Bureau.

This exchange mechanism will also include a staff exchange program in Hong Kong for officers from the mainland early next year.